Quotes from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Im Deutschen lügt man, wenn man höflich ist.

In the Beginning was the Mind'.

Nothing higher can be accomplished by the epic poet thus interpreting his own time in order to serve the future. (Foreword by Frederick Ungar in Elective Affinities, 1962, Ungar Publishing)

The highest achievement possible to man is the full consciousness of his own feelings and thoughts, for this gives him the means of knowing intimately the hearts of others.

It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to think that there should be men incapable of appreciating the few things which possess a real value in life.

Talent develops in quiet places, character in the full current of life.

Even if Man's accustomed to take His small world for the Whole, that's his mistake:

True, the Immortals appointed Fame, and Fate, As the two ambiguous, doubtful companions

When people really deteriorate, their only contribution is malicious joy in the misfortune of others.

Intelligent people are always the best encyclopaedia.

Behind me, field and meadow sleeping, I leave in deep, prophetic night, Within whose dread and holy keeping The better soul awakes to light. The wild desires no longer win us, The deeds of passion cease to chain; The love of Man revives within us, The love of God revives again.

Surrendering himself to the full possession of the spirit which shall speak through him, he receives, also, a portion of the same creative power.

Sometimes when we are talking she lays her hand upon mine, and in the eagerness of conversation comes closer to me, and her balmy breath reaches my lips,—when I feel as if lightning

Good and evil come Unannounced, to Mankind:

It is the most foolish of all errors for young people of good intelligence to imagine that they will forfeit their originality if they acknowledge truth already acknowledged by others.

I possess so much, but my love for her absorbs it all. I possess so much, but without her I have nothing.

Care has nested in the heart's depths, Restless, she rocks there, spoiling joy and rest, [645] There she works her secret pain, And wears new masks, ever and again, Appears as wife and child, fields and houses,

we should deal with children as God does with us, who makes us happiest when He lets us stagger in benevolent delusion.

Hay ocasiones en que no comprendo cómo puede amar a otro hombre, cómo se atreve a amar a otro hombre, cuando yo la amo con un amor tan perfecto, tan profundo, tan inmenso; cuando no conozco más que a ella, ni veo más que a ella, ni pienso más que en ella.

Whoever strives in ceaseless toil, Him we may grant redemption

Pasión! ¡Embriaguez!¡Demencia! ¡Todo esto es letra muerta para vosotros, impasibles moralistas!

I treat my poor heart like a sick child, and gratify its every fancy. Do not mention this again: there are people who would censure me for it.

What is the best government? — That which teaches us to govern ourselves.

So, here and there, some happy man exists?